2013 Beneteau Sense 50 vs 2012 Sabre 48 — Comparison
2013 Beneteau Sense 50
2012 Sabre 48
Specifications Side by Side
| Specification | 2013 Beneteau Sense 50 | 2012 Sabre 48 |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Manufacturer | Beneteau | Sabre |
| Year | 2013–2018 | 2012 |
| Type | Sloop | Sloop |
| Country | France | USA |
| Designer | Berret-Racoupeau | Jim Taylor |
| Dimensions | ||
| LOA | 15.42 m (50.6 ft) | 14.63 m (48.0 ft) |
| LWL | 13.80 m (45.3 ft) | 12.50 m (41.0 ft) |
| Beam | 4.70 m (15.4 ft) | 4.30 m (14.1 ft) |
| Draft | 2.20 m (7.2 ft) | 2.10 m (6.9 ft) |
| Weight | ||
| Displacement | 14,000 kg (30,865 lbs) | 13,608 kg (30,000 lbs) |
| Ballast | 4,000 kg (8,818 lbs) | 5,216 kg (11,499 lbs) |
| Sailing | ||
| Sail Area | 105.0 m² (1,130 ft²) | 96.0 m² (1,033 ft²) |
| Hull Material | Fiberglass | Fiberglass |
| Keel Type | Fin | Fin |
| Engine & Tanks | ||
| Engine | 75 HP | 100 HP |
| Fuel Capacity | 200 L (52.8 gal) | 284 L (75.0 gal) |
| Water Capacity | 400 L (105.7 gal) | 454 L (119.9 gal) |
| Accommodation | ||
| Berths | 10 | 7 |
| Cabins | 4 | 3 |
Performance Comparison
Detailed Comparison
The 2013 Beneteau Sense 50 and 2012 Sabre 48 represent two takes on sloop-rigged sailing. The 2013 Beneteau Sense 50 is a modern design by Beneteau from France, while the 2012 Sabre 48 is a modern offering from Sabre from USA. The 2013 Beneteau Sense 50 was penned by Berret-Racoupeau. The 2012 Sabre 48 was designed by Jim Taylor.
In terms of size, the 2013 Beneteau Sense 50 measures 15.42m (50.6ft) overall with a beam of 4.70m, compared to the 2012 Sabre 48 at 14.63m (48.0ft) with a 4.30m beam. The 2013 Beneteau Sense 50 is 0.79m longer than the 2012 Sabre 48. The 2013 Beneteau Sense 50 displaces approximately 3% more than its counterpart, which significantly affects how each boat handles in different sea states.
Looking at performance, the 2013 Beneteau Sense 50 has good sail power for versatile performance with an SA/D ratio of 18.36 and 105.0 m² of sail area. The 2012 Sabre 48, with an SA/D of 17.11 and 96.0 m² of canvas, offers good sail power for versatile performance. The 2013 Beneteau Sense 50 has the edge in terms of raw sailing performance.
For comfort and safety, the 2013 Beneteau Sense 50 offers a firm, racing-oriented motion (comfort ratio: 13.4) and excellent capsize resistance suitable for offshore voyaging (capsize ratio: 0.78). The 2012 Sabre 48 has a comfort ratio of 17.4 and a capsize screening value of 0.72. The ballast ratios are 28.6% for the 2013 Beneteau Sense 50 and 38.3% for the 2012 Sabre 48, reflecting their respective approaches to stability.
Below deck, the 2013 Beneteau Sense 50 provides 10 berths in 4 cabins with 400L of water capacity and 200L of fuel. The 2012 Sabre 48 offers 7 berths in 3 cabins with 454L water and 284L fuel capacity.
Verdict
For cruising: The 2012 Sabre 48 is the better choice for comfortable cruising thanks to its higher comfort ratio, offering a gentler motion at sea that crews will appreciate on longer passages.
For racing: The 2013 Beneteau Sense 50 has the performance advantage with its superior SA/D ratio, meaning more sail power relative to its displacement for competitive sailing.
For liveaboard: The 2013 Beneteau Sense 50 offers more sleeping accommodation, making it better suited for extended living aboard. Consider water and fuel capacity for extended stays away from marinas.